HONOLULU (December 5, 2011) – University of Hawai‘i head football coach Greg McMackin announced his retirement Monday afternoon during a press conference at the Stan Sheriff Center. McMackin’s 44-year coaching career included the past four seasons as head coach of the Warriors and two different stints as UH’s defensive coordinator.

A national search for McMackin’s replacement will begin immediately. Associate head coach Rich Miano will serve as interim head coach.

“Hawai‘i has meant a lot to my family and me,” McMackin said. “I appreciate Chancellor Hinshaw giving me the opportunity to be the head football coach at the University of Hawai‘i. I have decided to retire from my position at this time. I believe in my players and their potential for success. In their honor, I am foregoing $500,000 in the final year of my contract which I hope will help strengthen the UH football program. I want to thank my players, coaches, staff and the good people of Hawai‘i.”

“I know that Coach McMackin cares deeply for this team, his coaches and staff, the university and people of Hawai‘i,” UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said. “I respect his decision to retire from this position at this time and understand that he continues to think about the best direction for his team now, as he always has. I am grateful for his many contributions and wish him and his family the very best in their future.”

“I sincerely appreciate all the contributions that Coach McMackin has made to UH football for the past four years,” UH Athletics Director Jim Donovan said. “From last year’s WAC Championship to the greatly improved APR scores, Coach Mack has accomplished so much. He set the future for UH football. I wish Coach Mack, Heather and their whole family all the best as they head into this new chapter of their lives.”

McMackin compiled a 29-25 record with Hawai‘i and led the Warriors to a pair of Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl appearances in 2008 and 2010. Last season, he guided UH to a 10-win season and share of the Western Athletic Conference championship, just the fourth in the program’s history.

McMackin was the team’s defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2007, both of which were WAC championship seasons. He participated in four bowl teams with Hawai‘i (1999, ’07, ’08, and ’10) for a total of 14 bowl appearances as a collegiate coach.

The Springfield, Ore., native has spent 32 years coaching in the collegiate ranks at Idaho, San Jose State, Stanford, Utah, Miami (Fla.,), and Texas Tech. He also coached professionally with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

Under McMackin, UH’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) rose significantly and was among the highest in the WAC and among schools in the western United States. He also was instrumental in establishing the bridge program at UH, allowing new student-athletes to get a head start on their degrees.

The graduation rate among football student-athletes was the highest in years and the program received a total of 41 academic all-WAC citations during his first three seasons as head coach. Last season, Kealoha Pilares became only the third Warrior to earn first-team Academic All-America honors.

In addition, six players under McMackin were drafted in the NFL while another six signed NFL free agent contracts. Three different players earned All-America honors and the program received 29 all-WAC citations in his four seasons, including 2008 WAC defensive player of the year Solomon Elimimian.